“No.” She leaned forward, capturing his face between her hands, resting her forehead against his. “I do not wish to talk about what may happen, nor look to what awaits us. Just this. This is all I want—you. I only want to look at you for as long as I can.”
Aeric breathed in the scent of her as he leaned into her touch. She heard him swallow thickly before he nodded.
This time when he kissed her, it was slow. So gentle and searching, it brought tears to her eyes. Never had anyone treated her with such care the way Aeric did, and to think that she’d nearly lost him. The mere thought made her whimper into his mouth as he caressed her lips with his tongue, begging for entry.
Before long, he laid her down, running his hands over her shoulders, then to her chest where his palms started a burning need through her. His eyes scorched every part of her as he molded the fabric of her nightgown along the curves of her breasts, her waist. He was the sculptor responsible for her making and undoing as he drew out a gasp from her lips upon drawing her legs up around his hips.
The hem of her gown fell around her stomach, and she shivered. Aeric noticed, and smiled as he placed a kiss upon her throat, then further down. Every single touch and nip making her writhe beneath him until she was a living flame. There was nothing that could have torn his gaze away from her as he watched her burn, flickering and swirling to life all by his touch alone.
He nipped at her bottom lip, distracting her as his handslid down the plain of her stomach, between her thighs. The sound that escaped her was a sharp gasp that he claimed with a kiss as he touched her.Again, again, again.Playing her with his fingers, drawing out soft sighs and desperate whispers for more that were meant only ever for him.
“Aeric…”
“I’m here,” he said as he kissed her again, only increasing his movements when her hands slid beneath his tunic and undershirt. Running her nails down his back as she lost herself to him entirely.
Not once did she close her eyes as she watched him, wanting to remember the way his gaze roved over hers with hunger. The dip between his brows as he ensured she was all right, with this—withhim.The shadows were still there, lurking in the corners of her vision, but she didn’t care. Not so long as he was here, making her feel only him, see only him.
All it took was a single nod for him to understand. A low moan escaped him as he granted her the one thing she wanted from him in this moment. Kissed her once, then twice as he moved his hand over her in maddening circles. Unleashing the fire within her before stoking it completely as he eased her down.
Whispering her name softly in a silent request—a worship.
“Touch me…” he said, bringing her hands up to his face as he watched her. “So that you may never forget me.”
Anelize smiled, a tear rolling down the side of her face before he brushed it away. “I could never forget you.”
They laid together for a long time as she did as he asked. Running her hands over his face until she familiarized herself with him. Kissing his forehead, then his eyes, down to his lips once more.
“I’ll not let anything happen to you. I swear it,” he rasped, before she silenced him with another kiss just as her hand trailed down the muscled plane of his chest and abdomen, and down until her name was a deep groan in the back of his throat.
There was so much they could say to each other in this moment. Yet, it would do neither of them any good. Not in this world they were born into and all the uncertainty it promised.
For the briefest of moments, in the safety of his arms and the unmistakable happiness she felt taking root in her chest with every kiss they shared, Anelize allowed herself to dream that this could be their lives someday. That they could have everything they could ever want.
That had been her first mistake.
Everyone was gathered around the parlor by the time they’d both gotten dressed and ready to face what laid ahead of them. Their peaceful haze, as fleeting as it had been, was quickly forgotten when they stepped inside to find everyone was there. Waiting for them, by the looks of things.
Adan and Idris were seated at the round table, each nursing what looked to be steaming cups of spiced tea that Zara had given them as she poured one for Henry before handing it to him. Castian stood when he spotted Aeric, the relief on his face unmistakable as he looked at him, and smiled. Gabriel was leaning against the wall, looking out the window with a scrutinizing eye. No doubt looking for any sign of trouble beyond the safety of the Dobrins’ tavern.
Henry beamed when he saw them and walked over to handAnelize the cup Zara had poured for him. “Good to see you both well. You had us all worried, son.”
Aeric nodded in gratitude. “Thanks to you and Zara, no doubt.”
Henry shrugged him away with a wave of his scarred hand, as if it was preposterous to thank the man who was like a father to all of them in a way. “One would truly need to be a monster to turn away from those in need, Aeric. Though, I suspect I do not need to tell you, of all people, about that.”
“Come sit, you two. We have much to discuss and little time to do so.”
They followed Henry to the table and sat in the empty chairs to face the rest of the group.
Zara started fretting over Aeric, insisting on checking his wound until he stopped her and said, “Zara, if you could please tend to Anelize first.”
Anelize blinked when he motioned toward her wrist, surprised he hadn’t forgotten, before she thought it was absurd he would worry over such a small inconvenience.
He arched a brow at her when he caught her glowering at him. Then he winked with the infuriating grin of his. “You’ll need that hand for the next person you decide to punch.”
Zara turned her worry onto her before Anelize could shoot him a retort.
Aeric grinned as he took a sip of his tea before turning to face the others.
